September 18, 2020

Coronavirus Update: Pandemic Planning & Looking Ahead

Dear Neighbors,

The Council is poised to consider a number of police-related reform bills
this fall, and much of that work will build upon what has already begun
through emergency legislation and the Council's Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. As
we move forward with reforms such as revising the criminal code, limiting
qualified immunity, and evaluating what emergency needs may be better met
by non-police entities (such as mental health specialists or social
workers), I'd like to share a new and very helpful resource on the tangible
effects that the budget will have on ongoing reform efforts and violence
prevention in the District. The Council's Budget Office has recently
released a [1]Criminal Justice Reform Report that details what specific
programs have been enhanced and funded through the budget. Importantly, it
explains why these changes are pertinent to a more just and equitable
approach to the criminal justice system. Of course, there are many in the
District who are working towards our shared goal of fairness, safety, and
justice. The budget is an important tool, but it is not the only one. Here
are some other safety programs and policing reform efforts to be aware of:
* The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety's upcoming [2]October
15th Public Hearing on Police Reform
* The Kojo Nnamdi Show's segment, [3]UDC's President Wants To Study—And
End—White Supremacy (aired on 9/2/20)
* Information and resources related to the Office of the Attorney
General's [4]Violence Interruption Program
* Follow the Police Reform Commission [5]online and watch previous
meetings here: [6]August 26th, [7]September 4, & [8]September 14

Regards,

Mary

Please see [9]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or
she may sign up through [10]marycheh.com

Honoring the 19th Anniversary of September 11th

September 11th - For the past ten years, Councilmember Cheh has visited
each firehouse in Ward 3 on September 11th to deliver baked goods and offer
her thanks and appreciation to our local Fire and Emergency Medical
Services (FEMS) members. On the same day, she would also present a
Ceremonial Resolution to the Fire Chief and firefighters of Engine 13
downtown. This year, due to [11]obligations as a volunteer in the
coronavirus vaccine trial, Councilmember Cheh was unable to host this
year's commemorative events. Happily, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto was
able to fill in and present the resolution (as well as deliver cupcakes
from Councilmember Cheh).

Below are photos from this year's September 11th Remembrance Ceremony. For
a video message from Councilmember Cheh to FEMS, please click [12]here.

5,000 Meals for FEMS - This year, Chef José Andrés and World Central
Kitchen partnered with 9/11 Day to provide over 5,000 meals to our local
firefighters in remembrance and appreciation of September 11th.

Regionally, over 35,000 meals were delivered to first responders—all
provided by local restaurants.

If you’d like to support this mission or to volunteer, please see: [13]911
Day.

Reminder to Fill Out the 2020 Census

You Matter, So Get Counted - The U.S. Census Bureau has deployed staffers
to neighborhoods across the country to obtain Census data from those who
have not completed their census. To avoid this in-person encounter,
residents may still complete the census online at [14]2020census.gov or by
phone at 844-330-2020. Of course, if you still have the paper version that
was mailed to you, you can complete it and mail it back at any time.

What does a census taker look like? Census takers work from 9 am to 9 pm
and will present an ID badge with their name, photo, Department of Commerce
watermark, and expiration date. Always ask to see ID.

Find out if census takers are in your area by texting “DOOR” to 442020.

[15]

Pandemic Planning: Looking Ahead

The Mayor's Situational Update - On Thursday, Mayor Bowser presented a
[16]Situational Update that provided some aggregate data on the District's
past response to the coronavirus pandemic, where the District is now in
terms of data and local operations, and the Executive's planning goals for
the upcoming months. Notably, this report announced the Mayor's goal to
reopen District schools in November under a hybrid in-person and virtual
learning model.

The Mayor's full Situational Report is available here:[17] September 17th,
2020.

To view the Mayor's press conference on the report, please click on the
[18]video below:

[19]

Vote Safe this November

[20]

Voting this November - There are three ways to vote this November: by
absentee ballot, by early voting, and by Election Day voting. If a resident
chooses to vote with an absentee ballot, then he or she may either mail-in
the ballot to the Board of Elections or drop off the ballot at any ballot
drop box location in the District.

The voting map to the right details all of the locations for ballot drop
boxes (blue), early voting centers (green), and Election Day voting centers
(red).

For a larger and interactive version of the map, please see: [21]Where can
I vote?

Voting in Ward 3

Absentee Ballots - The Board of Elections will be mailing every registered
voter an absentee ballot, a process that will begin the first week of
October. Please take a moment to confirm your registration status [22]here
so that BOE has the correct mailing address for your home.

Ward 3's ballot drop boxes will be installed at the following locations:
* Guy Mason Recreation Center ([23]3600 Calvert Street, NW)
* Chevy Chase Library ([24]5625 Connecticut Avenue, NW)
* Tenley-Friendship Library ([25]4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW)
* Cleveland Park Library ([26]3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW)
* Palisades Library ([27]4901 V Street, NW)
* Second District Police Station (3320 Idaho Avenue, NW)

Early Voting - The following early voting centers will be open from
Tuesday, October 27th, through Monday, November 2nd, from 8:30am-7pm:
* Murch Elementary School (4810 36th Street NW)
* Horace Mann Elementary School (4430 Newark Street NW)
* Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert Street NW)
* University of the District of Columbia (4200 Connecticut Avenue NW)

Election Day Voting - The following polling places will be open on Tuesday,
November 3rd, from 7am-8pm:
* Capitol Memorial Church (3150 Chesapeake Street NW)
* Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Avenue NW)
* Cleveland Park Library (3310 Connecticut Avenue NW)
* Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert Street NW)
* Horace Mann Elementary School (4430 Newark Street NW)
* Janney School (4130 Albemarle Street NW)
* Murch Elementary School (4810 36th Street NW)
* Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert Street NW)
* Oyster School (2801 Calvert Street NW)
* Palisades Recreation Center (5200 Sherrier Place NW)
* University of the District of Columbia (4200 Connecticut Avenue NW)

In the News:

From Fox 5 - DC councilwoman among COVID-19 vaccine trial participants

In the race for a [28]COVID-19 vaccine, a DC Councilwoman is among the
millions of Americans participating in a Coronavirus vaccine trial. "I
think a vaccine is probably what is going to get us out of this..so to be a
part of that process of getting a vaccine struck me as very important,"
said Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh...She said about 3 days after each
injection, she felt recovered from symptoms.

[29]Watch the Full Segment

Art All Night Goes Virtual for 2020

Celebrate the Arts - Art All Night, the District’s annual celebration of
the arts, is going virtual this year with online performances from now
through September 26th. The annual festival takes place in Ward 3's
Tenleytown and in neighborhoods across the District—celebrating the arts in
all forms and showcasing the diverse talents of the local creative
community.

This week, the Tenleytown Main Street is featuring The Tenleytown Art Walk!

Explore exhibits from painters, sculptors, mosaicists, and mixed media
artists displayed in select Tenleytown storefront windows—all accessible
from a safe social distance. View in-person with the Main Street's
self-guided tour or enjoy a virtual tour from the comfort of home. The Art
Walk will be available through September 26. [30]Click here for the digital
Art Walk guide.

For upcoming Art All Night events, including dances, cocktail making
classes, children's events, and performances, please see the Tenleytown
Main Street's online calendar:[31] Art All Night Schedule.

Upcoming Event: Rock Creek Park Day

Rock Creek Park Day - The [32]Rock Creek Conservancy, [33]Friends of Peirce
Mill, [34]Corazón Latino, and the National Park Service invite residents to
celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 26th and Rock
Creek Park's 130th birthday on Sunday, September 27th.

To celebrate, there will be both virtual programming and socially distanced
in-park activities that include scavenger hunts, park cleanups, historic
tours, nature tours, and more. Family-friendly and Spanish-language
programming options will be available.

Learn more and RSVP here: [35]Love Rock Creek.

Volunteering with Friendship Place during COVID-19

Working to End Homelessness - Next Tuesday, [36]Friendship Place will be
hosting a special community webinar with their Community Engagement
Manager, Chris Cannedy, to discuss volunteer opportunities during the
ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:00 pm

Please Register: [37]Here

Tour The Brooks - Click [38]here or on the video below for a virtual tour
of The Brooks, Ward 3's new Short-Term Family Housing facility that serves
families experiencing homelessness.

[39]

Upcoming Panel Event:

Monitoring Wildlife to Prevent the Proliferation of New Diseases

Living Sentinels - On September 29th at 3:00 pm, join the [40]DC
Environmental Network and [41]City Wildlife for a free webinar featuring
local, national, and international wildlife and health experts, as they
explore the complex connections between wildlife rehabilitation and trade,
and the current pandemic-driven global health crisis.

The panel:
* Mary Cheh, DC Councilperson, Ward 3, Chair of the DC Council Committee
on Transportation & the Environment: Moderator
* John Hadidian, PhD, City Wildlife board of directors: [42]Sentinels:
The Role of Wildlife Rehabilitation in Detecting Wildlife-Borne Diseases
and Safeguarding Public Health and the Environment
* Teresa Telecky, PhD, Vice President, Humane Society International:
Wildlife: Covid-19 and Wildlife Trade
* David Wiebers, MD, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Emeritus Professor
of Neurology, Consultant Emeritus, Departments of Neurology and Health
Sciences Research: What the Covid-19 Crisis Is Telling Humanity

All are welcome!

[43]Register Here

In the News: The President's Threat to Cut off Federal Funding

From Washingtonian - Wait, Can Donald Trump Actually Cut Off Funding to My
City Because It’s “Anarchist”?

In the memo, Trump flags four Democratic-led cities—DC, New York, Seattle,
and Portland—as examples of places that have “deteriorated into lawless
zones.” He orders the Attorney General and Director of the Office of
Management and Budget to identify other “anarchist jurisdictions” with the
intent of limiting federal funding to those locales...

Still, should he decide to press forward with these efforts, does he have a
shot at bringing his plans to fruition? One particularly interested
party—a constitutional law professor who happens to sit on the DC
Council—says don’t bet your paycheck on it. Or even your federal block
grant.

“It’s an unwinnable legal battle,” says Mary Cheh, a Democrat who
represents Ward 3 and does double duty as a professor at George Washington
University Law School. “This document is a crude political attack
masquerading as a presidential directive.”

[44]Read the Full Story

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Returning Citizens Start Free Exercise & Wellness Program

From DCist - D.C. Returning Citizens Start Free Exercise And Wellness
Program To Fight ‘Long Battle’ Against Health Disparities

By Aja Beckman

Ward 8 native Mallory “Rocky” Simpson works at a fitness and health club in
Maryland, and he’s heard from a lot of people who tell him they can’t
currently afford a gym membership.

That’s part of why he co-founded [45]WEFITDC, an organization that provides
free weekly workouts among its wellness offerings. The events are held
mainly in wards 7 and 8, but all residents from the D.C. region are
welcome. Each event includes a pop-up style workout session, plus health
and wellness booths where local, minority-owned businesses distribute their
goods, including free gourmet meals, natural pressed juices, and
merchandise.

The organization began hosting workouts in June to meet a number of
concerns in the community: Joe Houston, WEFITDC CEO and Ward 8 resident,
says many residents east of the river have serious health concerns such as
diabetes and high blood pressure, which causes an increased risk of
contracting coronavirus...

...These weekly sessions also empower the fitness instructors who lead
them, says Houston, who notes that about 75 percent of the group’s trainers
have been incarcerated, including him. From 2009 to 2014, Houston served
five years in prison for a gun charge.

“I’ve served my time and now look to make an impact on my community,” he
says.

[46]Read the Full Story

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are
teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to reach us via phone through our main line at (202)
724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services
requests.

[47]Facebook [48]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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